Report: ESPN, MLB Nearing Broadcast Deal

MLB and ESPN have a “framework agreement” that would allow the network exclusive rights to sell all out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five teams over the next three years, sources told The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand in an article posted Thursday.

ESPN would keep broadcasting about 30 regular-season games, but not “Sunday Night Baseball,” with ESPN baseball broadcasts moving to a new night of the week, The Athletic reported.

The deal, which has not been signed, is expected to be done next month and would take effect next season. The exact amount of the deal and terms were unknown. MLB and ESPN declined to comment to The Athletic.

The five teams that ESPN would have full rights to in- and out-of-market games of are the Guardians, Padres, Twins, Diamondbacks and Rockies, The Athletic reported. Fans would likely need to subscribe to ESPN and then pay an additional price to see their local team.

In February, ESPN opted out of the last three years of its deal with MLB. The network paid an average of $550 million per season for “Sunday Night Baseball,” eight to 12 first-round playoff games, and the Home Run Derby.

Netflix is the big favorite to win the Home Run Derby contract, while NBC and Apple are vying for “Sunday Night Baseball” and the first-round playoff games, The Athletic reported. All deals are expected to be for three years.

The ESPN-MLB deal would include MLB.TV as part of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer offering, The Athletic reported. It was unclear if out-of-market subscribers who pay for the package through cable or another way would still be able to get MLB.TV the same way. The deal may also eventually include MLB Network, but that is not set, The Athletic reported.

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